Cruising World - May 2016

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PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS and TECHNIQUES

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4

MAY 2016

4

Bodacious Batteries

PAGE 62

2

Way Into Outboards

PAGE 57

1

Details, Details

PAGE 53

may 2016

cruisingworld.com

BOATBUILDING

T

he Cruising World Boat of

the Year contest tries to

identify the best new of erings

in a range of classes based on

quality, value and performance.

As the contenders are short-

listed, the judges’ focus naturally

narrows down to specifi c dif-

ferentiating features. Thus it’s

only when the contest is over,

and the stacks of fi les and pho-

tos are collated, that we can get

an overview of the state of the

industry; identify new trends in

design, construction techniques

and materials; and explore the

many small but innovative new

features that we believe will sur-

vive the test of time.

The most obvious trend this

year is that very few produc-

tion boats are currently made

in America. We tested entries

manufactured in France, Italy,

Germany, Turkey, South Africa,

A Cruising World Boat of the Year judge sums up the latest design features and innovations —

both what works and what doesn’t — in this year’s fleet of new boats. BY ALVAH SIMON

1 PRESENTLY TRENDING

Twin helms (top) allow good visibility forward and open

access to the transom. The sheet winches on the Azuree 46

(above) are within easy reach of the skipper.

SIMON SAYS

“Cockpit efficiency and

deck flow were markedly

improved this year due

to the cruiser/racers.”

BILLY BLACK (TOP); ALVAH SIMON

3

A Fantastic Forestay

PAGE 61

China and Croatia, but only

the Marlow-Hunter had the

screaming eagle on its build-

er’s certifi cate. This may be the

result of the industry clearly

consolidating into fewer, larger

and more powerful players.

Jeanneau and Beneteau,

although in marketing terms

independent of each other, are

owned by the same umbrella

group that also owns Lagoon

multihulls. Even the English

icon Moody has migrated east

to Germany and the Hanse

building complex, which also

handles the Dehler line.

Design ei ciency in the

terrestrial environment of

90- degree angles, relatively

unlimited space and stable plat-

forms is fairly straightforward.

But in the watery world of

compound curves, compressed

spaces and constant motion,

balancing fashion, function

and fl ow requires some nau-

tical alchemy. Manufacturers

seem to want to cover as many

niches size-wise as possible,

often relying on the expedi-

ent of upsizing or downsizing

extant models. This year, the

vessels that were simply up-

sized left the judges feeling as if